I still wore my sneakers, though. Something stubborn in me wouldn抰 let them go.
揙h.?I blinked about six times in a row. 揟hanks.?
揗hm.?He nodded and kept watching me with that half-amused, half-thoughtful expression.
We watched the rest of the karaoke night without talking, just cheering and laughing and enjoying the music and vibrancy of our little community pub, but I held his attention the entire time. Little shivers ran down my neck every time our eyes met.
Later that night, as I brushed my teeth, I replayed the evening. Why didn抰 Avery and I go out to the bar more often? Even though the date with Carter had been awkward, the rest of the evening was so fun. Wyatt was so easy to talk to, I didn抰 know why I had been so shy around him for so long.
I mean, I guess I knew a little. You look cute tonight. I kept hearing it in my head, and each time I did, my stomach fluttered and I bit my lip. I gave myself a shy grin in the mirror.
He probably said that to all the women in his life. He probably said that to his mom, to Avery. To women he felt platonic towards. Or worse. Maybe he felt bad for me and wanted to give me a confidence boost. I winced. I really, really hoped he didn抰 feel bad for me.
I抎 have to do a better job on my date with Holden on Saturday. I was going to show Wyatt that I could do this.
The conversation with Wyatt about the bookstore popped back into my head, how I rambled on about all the changes I would make, and the fluttery warmth in my stomach as I pictured what the store would look like. What it could be.
Before my guilt could get in the way, I opened a social media account for the store and posted a picture I had taken of Liya the other day surrounded by a new shipment of books.
My dad didn抰 want the store to change, but my dad also wasn抰 involved in the store and had no idea how bad things had gotten with the finances.
I had a business to run, and we couldn抰 keep my mom抯 memory alive if the store went under.
7
Hannah
The cupcakes glowed behind the glass and I tapped my chin as I stared at them. 揑 should get a few of those as well.?
Veena grinned and placed them into the box with all the other baked goods I couldn抰 say no to.
I straightened up. 揂nd four pop tarts, please.?
Veena抯 was a tiny bakery in town, named after the owner and head baker. She was a petite woman in her forties with very shiny, black hair and bright eyes. I often stopped in at lunch to pick up some treats for Liya and myself, and always enjoyed my chats with the friendly Veena.
揌ow many people are you watching The Bachelorette with??
揓ust four of us.?
She laughed. 揧ou have enough for a hockey team here.?
揑t抯 your baking. It抯 like crack.?
揧ou say the sweetest things. I should put that on the window.?She sealed the box up and cleared her throat. 揌ow抯 your dad??
揌e抯 good. He抯 going to house sit for his brother over on Salt Spring for a couple months.?
She nodded, turning her back to me to place the box in a carrying bag. 揜ight. He mentioned that. He has a farm, right??
揧ep. Does he come in a lot??My dad didn抰 like sweets, so this surprised me.
When she turned, her smile strained. 揝ometimes.?
I narrowed my eyes. 揘ext time you should remind him that I like cupcakes and he should bring me some at the store.?
The warmth returned to her eyes. 揑抣l do that.?
I left the bakery with the treats and walked over to Div抯 apartment.
Max opened the door when I knocked, and I held out the bag. 揟reats.?
His eye lit up. 揥e like you. You抮e forever welcome on Bachelorette night.?He stepped back and gestured for me to come in.
揑s that Hannah??Div called from the kitchen.
I slipped my shoes off and placed them in the closet. 揧es.?
揇oes she want a glass of wine??
揝he does,?I replied, following Max into a pristinely clean kitchen.
Avery sat at the counter, pouring red wine into four glasses, while Div arranged gummy bears on a plate. He caught sight of the bakery bag and gave me a flat look.
揤eena抯？？
揥here else??
He approached the bag like there was a wild animal inside, peeked in, before closing his eyes and inhaling. The moan he let out made all of us uncomfortable.
揇iv, are you okay??Avery asked, laughing.
Div frowned at the bag like he didn抰 trust it. 揌annah, why are you tempting me like this? Do you hate me??
My mouth fell open. 揙f course I don抰 hate you. Everyone should experience Veena抯 cupcakes.?I nudged the bag closer to him. 揟aste one.?
He patted his stomach. 揑 like having abs.?
揙h my god.?Max shook his head. 揘o one needs to hear about your abs anymore. We get it.?